Seoul, Korea, August 31, 2026: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Im Ae-ji will miss next month's Asian Games boxing tournament after suffering an injury during training, the sport's national federation has announced.
An official with the Boxing Association of Korea said Im tore a ligament in her left knee during a recent sparring session and underwent surgery that will keep her out of the Asian Games, which will open September 19 in Nagoya, Japan, Yonhap News reports.
Im had been scheduled to compete in the women's 54-kilogram division.
The 27-year-old boxer won bronze in the same weight class (bantamweight) at the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the first South Korean female boxer to win an Olympic medal.
"I am devastated that I will not be able to compete and I hope you will all cheer for the rest of our athletes," Im wrote on her social media page.
The boxing association said Yang Yi-young, runner-up to Im in the national team trials, will replace Im at the Asian Games.
Im has competed in two Asian Games and two Olympic Games.